Ask HN: Is it possible to start an AI product without venture capital?

I have an AI idea that I'm developing, but I don't have any money to burn. I also worry that a $20 subscription might not be enough to cover the costs of the most active users. Is it possible to create an AI product and start a business without any cash on hand to attract customers?

edit: I believe the best comparison is a product like Perplexity and the functionality of Deep Research.